Telephone Reassurance program volunteers offer community lifeline

Not too long ago, Grace Heston walked into the Volunteer Services office at Banner Del E. Webb Medical Center, 14502 W. Meeker Blvd., Sun City West, looking for her lifeline – a woman named Arlene Weatherton.

The two felt as if they were old friends, but had never actually met even though they speak with each other by phone at least once a week. In fact, Weatherton and her colleagues who answer the Telephone Reassurance phone lines at the nonprofit medical center chat with more than 100 people each morning.

“I had a name and a voice, but never had a face to go with her,” Heston said.

The program is a free service for people who are living alone or living with a disabled spouse. They call in each day to let the volunteer on the other end of the line know they are OK. If they do not call in, the volunteers will call a neighbor to go and check up on the person and if that fails, then will call the Sun City West Sheriff’s Posse.

The volunteer operators decided to provide an opportunity to meet the people they speak to each day and recently invited the program’s participants to the hospital for a party.

“They put the whole thing together and provided the refreshments,” said Jean Medico, director of Volunteer Services at Banner Del E. Webb. “I was so touched to see how many people who take advantage of the program came out to meet our volunteers.”

More than 50 people showed up, including Blanche Alpert, whose husband died 10 years ago. For nearly a decade she has called in each morning to let the volunteers know she is OK.

“I was by myself and figured it would be a good idea, because if I forget, they call me and make sure nothing is wrong,” she said.

Lillian Sidlow, a Telephone Reassurance volunteer who co-chairs the program with Weatherthon, said about 123 people use the program.

“When I’m not working as a program volunteer, I call in as well,” she said.

Sidlow got involved with the program after her husband died in 2003.

“It really brightens my day to speak with these people, and I know from personal experience it means a lot to the callers as well,” she said.

Heston said she was happy her impromptu visit resulted in her meeting Weatherton.

“Sometimes, the person I speak to in the morning is the only live person I get to talk to all day,” she said.

People in the community who wish to participate in the program can register by calling 623-214-4058. People who would like to volunteer as a phone operator may call the same number. Telephone Reassurance Volunteers answer phones from 6:30 to 9 a.m., seven days a week, 365 days a year.